Every game is Xmas as Hawks fire Bullets

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basketball.com.au

Every game is Xmas as Hawks fire Bullets

Highlights

Illawarra was too much for a depleted Brisbane 102-84

Trey Kell III and Tyler Harvey combine for 35 points
Illawarra Hawks sustained execution too much for deleted Brisbane
Hawks vow to wear Christmas Day uniforms until win streak ends

Can anyone beat Illawarra Hawks in their Christmas Day uniforms? Sydney couldn't and now Brisbane wilted under the pressure of the Hawks' one-two punch of Trey Kell III and Tyler Harvey and Illawarra's elite team defence.

Illawarra Hawks went to 13-5 on the season, soaring to a decisive 102-84 (Game Centre) victory against the Brisbane Bullets at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on Friday, December 27, 2024.

Word is, the Hawks will continue to wear their Christmas Day uniforms until their winning streak is busted.

The Christmas Day uniform Hawks celebrate victory after the round 14 NBL match between Brisbane Bullets and Illawarra Hawks at Brisbane Entertainment Centre, on December 27, 2024, in Brisbane. Photo: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

A depleted Brisbane are now 9-9 and 7th on the ladder and are looking for a replacement import for James Batemon, who did his hamstring last week. They are also without Deng Adel (hand injury), Jarred Bairstow (ankle), and Sam McDaniel (shoulder). Both Bairstow and McDaniel, like Batemon, are gone for the season.

Brisbane's NBL Next Star Rocco Zikarsky also didn't suit up.

The clash began with the Bullets firing on all cylinders, racing to an early 10-point lead behind the hot shooting of Casey Prather. The home crowd of 6,405 was electric as Brisbane seemed poised to upset the league-leading Hawks. However, Illawarra's depth and defensive intensity gradually turned the tide.

The pivotal moment came midway through the third quarter when Illawarra unleashed a blistering 14-0 run, transforming a tight contest into a commanding lead they would not relinquish. Tyler Harvey and Tyler Kell III spearheaded the Hawks' offensive onslaught, combining for 35 points.

Tyler Harvey of the Hawks gets in the paint during the round 14 NBL match between Brisbane Bullets and Illawarra Hawks at Brisbane Entertainment Centre, on December 27, 2024, in Brisbane, Australia. Photo: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Illawarra's suffocating defence proved to be the difference-maker, forcing 22 Brisbane turnovers which they converted into 32 points. The Hawks' bench also played a crucial role, outscoring the Bullets' reserves 39-21 and providing a spark whenever the starters needed a rest.

The Hawks out-rebounded Brisbane 40-33, dished out more assists (18-to-9), and shot a higher percentage from the field (49% to 46%). Perhaps most telling was Illawarra's dominance in the paint, where they outscored the Bullets 62-34, consistently finding high-percentage shots near the basket.

Sam Froling was a force to be reckoned with for the Hawks, notching a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. His presence in the paint was instrumental in Illawarra's interior dominance.

For Brisbane, Prather dropped 28-point effort on 11-from-18 shooting was not enough as the Bullets were overwhelmed by the Hawks relentlessness and depth.

The Bullets' normally reliable backcourt of Keandre Cook and Isaiah White combined for just 17 points on 5-from-16 shooting and were unable to find their rhythm.

Looking ahead, the Hawks will aim to build on this momentum as they return home to face the surging 9-9 South East Melbourne Phoenix (Game Centre) on New Year's Eve, December 31, 2024.

For the Bullets, this loss is a setback in their push for a playoff berth. They'll need to regroup quickly against the red hot 10-8 Tasmania JackJumpers (Game Centre) on the road on Sunday, December 29, 2024.